TOWN OF BONNYVILLE
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS
SPECIAL MEETING SEPTEMBER 14 & 15
BONNYVILLE JR. A PONTIACS: The local Jr. A team was looking to renew the Town’s sponsorship. Dennis Germain, Vice President for the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs, requested Council continue to provide $15,000 to the club for the Community Ambassador Program, which subsidizes the cost of tickets to make them the cheapest in the hockey league. If Council moves ahead with the program, it would be the third season it has been in place.
PRIMARY CARE NETWORK: Jesse Stein, Executive Director for the Primary Care Network, made a presentation to Council outlining the $90,000 request from the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Collaborative and Hive Youth Club. Of that, $40,000 would go towards the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Collaborative and $50,000 to the Hive Youth Club. Both programs hope to increase the programs and ways they reach youth and adolescents in the community.
BONNYVILLE CANADIAN NATIVE FRIENDSHIP CENTRE: The financial request from the Bonnyville Canadian Native Friendship Centre for 2023 came in at $50,400. According to Bonnyville Friendship Centre representatives Lauri Fitzpatrick and Janet Gobert, the money would go to the Friendship Centre’s community Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners, foodbank, and men’s shelter.
BONNYVILLE AG SOCIETY: Ag Society Treasurer Corey Dows told Council their ask would be $15,000 for the 2023 budget. The Elite Sponsorship would cover the Ag Society’s main events, which are the rodeo, chuckwagons, and Fall Fair.
BONNYVILLE GEAR GRABBERS: The $5,000 ask from the Bonnyville Gear Grabbers has remained the same. Shon Gamache, a member of the local car group, told Council the amount would go towards the Airport Drag Races.
BONNYVILLE & DISTRICT SPCA: There was a $10,000 request increase from the Bonnyville and District SPCA, which would bring the amount contributed from the Town to $60,000. According to board members from the animal shelter, the jump in their ask is due to inflation costs and to assist with the hiring and retention of employees.
BONNYVILLE & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY: The Bonnyville and District Historical Society increased their ask by $5,000 from the Town to $35,000. The money would go towards enhancing the Bonnyville museum.
RIVERLAND RECREATIONAL TRAIL SOCIETY: The $1,932 ask from the Riverland Recreational Trail Society is the same amount they asked from the Town in previous years. The amount requested from the group that maintains the Iron Horse Trail has requested the same annual contribution from the Town since 2013.
BONNYVILLE CURLING CLUB: Although the Bonnyville Curling Club’s $23,000 is the same as last years request, a representative from the facility did request that the money be used for maintenance on the facility and bills. This is due to a significant increase in their utilities due to the federal carbon tax.
BONNYVILLE MUNICIPAL LIBRARY: The Bonnyville Municipal Library has requested $137,964 from the Town, which is the same the facility asked for in 2022. Library Manager Leah Woodford said, ‘the library board is confident that as the provincial government moves away from public health restrictions, the Library will be able to continue to meet the plan of service and support the rate payers to the fullest.’